Although comedienne Ellen DeGeneres said there was definite chemistry between herself and former Ally McBeal star Portia de Rossi back in 2000, the pair did not begin dating until 2004 when they met again at the VH1 Big in ’04 Awards show. After the overturn of the same-sex marriage ban in California, DeGeneres announced on her show in May 2008 that she and de Rossi were engaged. She gave de Rossi a three-carat pink diamond engagement ring. The couple was married on August 16 2008 in a small ceremony at their home, with nineteen guests including their respective mothers.

Elton John and David Furnish Elton John met his Canadian-born partner David Furnish, a former advertising executive and now film maker, in 1993. After 12 years together the couple married on December 21 2005. A low-key ceremony was held at the Guildhall, Windsor, with their parents, photographer Sam Taylor-Wood and her then-husband Jay Jopling, and the couple’s dog Arthur in attendance - followed by a lavish £1 million party at their Berkshire mansion. Many famous guests were invited but were delayed just outside the house in a traffic jam of people waiting to get inside.

Kelli Carpenter, a former Nickelodeon marketing executive, met talkshow host and comedienne Rosie O’Donnell after the pair were set up on a date in 1998. Despite reservations about Rosie’s fame, they hit it off. They were married in San Francisco on February 26 2004 by Treasurer Susan Leal - one of the city's highest ranking lesbian officials - serenaded by The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus two weeks after the city's Mayor Gavin Newsom authorised the granting of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Sadly Rosie and Kelli have since split but remain committed parents to four children.

Torchwood actor John Barrowman met his partner Scott Gill during a production of Rope at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 1991, when Gill came to see Barrowman in the play. After dating for 15 years, Barrowman and Gill became civil partners on December 27 2006 in a small ceremony in Cardiff with family, friends, the cast of Torchwood and executive producer Russell T Davies in attendance.

Matt Lucas and Kevin McGee Little Britain star Matt Lucas met Kevin McGee in 2002 when McGee worked for Comic Relief. Three years later the couple celebrated a civil partnership ceremony followed by a lavish panto-themed wedding reception with a star-studded guest list, including Elton John and Paul O’Grady. Sadly the pair announced their split in June 2008.

Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan As well as being co-hosts, Scottish interior designers and television presenters Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan have been in a relationship since April 1985. On February 15 2008, they had a private civil partnership ceremony in London followed by a Caribbean honeymoon. According to recent press and media reports following their appearance on the reality TV show I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, the couple are planning to renew their vows on their 25th anniversary, April 28 2010.

Stephen Gately and Andrew Cowles Boyzone singer Stephen Gately started dating internet businessman Andrew Cowles in January 2002, after the pair were introduced to each other by mutual friends Elton John and David Furnish. Gately and Cowles held a commitment ceremony in a wedding chapel whilst on holiday in Las Vegas in 2003, and on March 19 2006 they entered into a civil partnership with a ceremony in London. Tragically their relationship was cut short when Gately died suddenly of a pulmonary oedema while on holiday in October 2009.

George Hosato Takei and Brad Altman In October 2005, Star Trek actor George Hosato Takei revealed in an issue of Frontiers magazine that he had been in a committed relationship with his partner, Brad Altman, for the last 18 years. In May 16 2008, Takei announced that he and Altman would be getting married and four months later, on September 14 2008, they tied the knot at the Democracy Forum of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles (Takei is one of the founders). Fellow Star Trek stars Walter Koenig and Nichelle Nichols were best man and matron of honour respectively.

Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels American rock’n’roll singer Melissa Etheridge first met actress Tammy Lynn Michaels in a bar in 2001 when Tammy Lynn’s friends dared her to approach Melissa. After dating for two years, Melissa proposed and the pair subsequently married in California on September 22 2003.

Alan Cumming and Grant Shaffer Actor Alan Cumming met graphic artist Grant Shaffer in 2004. The couple dated for two years before celebrating a civil partnership ceremony at the Old Royal Naval College Greenwich on January 7 2007.

Cynthia Nixon and Christine Marinoni Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon began dating education activist Christine Marinoni in January 2004 after they met at a fundraising event. They finally married in New York City in May 2012. Their relationship came under scrutiny as Nixon was previously married to, and had two children with, Danny Mozes. However, the star said: "I never felt like there was an unconscious part of me…that came out of the closet…I met this woman, I fell in love with her, and I'm a public figure." At the Love, Peace and Marriage Equality rally in New York on May 17 2009, Nixon announced that she and Marinoni had become engaged the month before, and that the couple would soon walk down the aisle.

Marc Jacobs and Lorenzo Martone After just a year of dating, fashion designer Marc Jacobs and his boyfriend Brazilian advertising executive Lorenzo Martone got engaged in March 2009, after Martone made a surprise proposal to Jacobs during dinner at the Mercer Hotel in New York, shortly before a trip to Brazil to meet Martone’s family. Although no date for the wedding has been official set, rumours surfaced in January 2010 that the couple had married in St.Barts when a picture emerged of them dressed in white and posing in front of a wedding cake designed by Larry Gagosian.

Rufus Wainwright and Jorn Weisbrodt The Canadian-American singer tied the knot with German-born theater producer Jorn Weisbrodt in front of 250 guests at his home in Montauk, New York in 2012. The couple dated for five years and decided to get married in 2010, when Rufus proposed over an Indian meal in London. Their wedding was attended by the likes of Yoko Ono, Julianne Moore and Mark Ronson. Guests were given a jar of local plum jam inscribed with 'Rufus+Jorn's Hochzeit' (wedding in German)

Rosie O'Donnell and her girlfriend Michelle Rounds tied the knot in June 2007. O'Donnell took to her blog to share the happy news: "We married in private, just the two of us". The pair had been planning an August wedding, but Michelle was diagnosed with a rare and often fatal disease of desmoids tumours in June, forcing them to postpone their nuptials. "When we are both well enough, [we] will have the wedding of our dreams surrounded by those we cherish thankful for the love and support so many have given us during these trying times," said O'Donnell.

Burberry's Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey is set to marry actor Simon Woods in an intimate civil ceremony. The couple, who first met in 2009, are set to marry at Chelsea Register Office's Brydon Room.

The famous fashion designer married his advertising executive partner Thomas Tolan at an intimate do in New York's Gramercy Park Hotel in June 2013. The intimate ceremony was attended by friends and family, including Jessica Alba, who was busy tweeting pictures of the couple's "beautiful" day.

The Gossip singer and her fiancée tied the knot in Maui, Hawaii. For their white wedding the singer, who walked down the aisle barefoot, wore a bespoke short, strapless Jean Paul Gaultier dress. Ogata paired a white shirt ad suit jacket with shorts.